Combo slide-window awning

ABSTRACT

A combo slide-window awning system for motor homes and recreational vehicles having an extendable coach slider includes an encasement, a slider awning and a window awning. First and second roll bars are disposed within the encasement and attached respectively to the slider awning and the window awning within the encasement. Independent of operation of the roll bars enables independent operation of the slider awning and the window awning.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.10/863,538 filed Jun. 7, 2004 now pending.

The present invention is generally related to retractable awnings and ismore particularly directed to a slide-lateral arm box awning for use ona slide out unit of a movable home, recreational vehicle or the like.

Many motor homes and recreational vehicles utilize retractable slide outportions in order to enlarge the amount of room available within therecreational vehicle during stationary positioning of the vehicle.

The slide out is completely retracted into the vehicle when the vehicleis traveling.

When in the extended position, slide out units typically accumulateenvironmental debris, such as, for example, leaves and the like whichmay be undesirably retracted within the vehicle with the slide outportion.

To overcome this problem, a number of retractable awning systems havebeen developed as, for example, set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,171,056,5,280,687, 5,752,536, 5,860,440, and 6,619,726.

In addition, it is desirable to provide a shaded or sheltered areaadjacent a recreational vehicle. The awnings hereinabove referencedwhile preventing debris from accumulating, have a coach slider may alsobe further extended to provide a covered area adjacent the slider whichshelters the area from sun and rain when the vehicle is parked at acampsite or the like.

Unfortunately, in most cases these awnings cannot be independentlyoperated to provide shelter adjacent the vehicle with the coach slidereither extended or not extended. A further disadvantage of the known artis the fact that legs often must be provided which are either hingeablyattached to the coach or the slider. Such supports are condusive togeneration of wind noise since they cannot be fully retracted topositions within the coach or the slider.

The present invention provides for a combo slide-window awning systemwhich provides for independently covering a coach slider to preventaccumulation of debris and further providing a sheltered area along sidethe coach slider whether it be extended or retracted. Further, thesystem in accordance with the present invention is compact, easy toinstall and provides minimum wind resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A combo slide-window awning system, in accordance with the presentinvention, is provided for motor homes and recreational vehicles havingan extendable coach slider. The system generally includes an elongateencasement having a back wall for fixing the encasement along a top ofthe coach slider. A slider awning is provided for extending over thecoach slider and a first roll bar is disposed within the encasement andattached to the slider awnings for rolling the slider awning thereaboutwithin the encasement.

A window awning is provided along with a second roll bar disposed withinthe encasement and attached to the lateral arm awning for rolling thewindow awning thereabout within the encasement. Support arms attached tothe window awning are provided for extending and retracting the windowawning from and toward the encasement.

More particularly, the second roll bar is operable, independent ofoperation of the first roll bar for rolling the window awning. Thisenables a sheltered area to be provided adjacent the coach sliderwhether the coach slider is extended from the coach sidewall orretracted within the vehicle.

More specifically, the slide awning includes first end for attachment toa coach sidewall and the slide awning includes a second end forattachment to the roll bar. The window awning includes a first endattached to the second roll bar.

Preferably, two support arms are attached to the window awning.

Still more particularly, the first and second roll bars may be disposedin the encasement and the slider awning is extendable through theencasement back wall over the coach slider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be betterunderstood by the following description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide-lateral arm box awning system inaccordance with the parent invention for a recreational vehicle shownwith a coach slider extended, the system including an elongateencasement attached along the coach slider and shown with a sliderawning extended over the coach slider and a lateral arm awning extendedfrom the slider to provide a sheltered area adjacent thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side view, in partial cross section, of the system inaccordance with the parent invention generally showing first and secondroll bars for rolling the slider awning and lateral arm awningrespectively; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 with the coach sliderextended;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the present invention generally showing acombination slider window awning assembly, or system, with a slider in aretracted configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the present invention generally showing thecombination slider window awning assembly with the slider in anextended, or deployed, position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a slide-lateral box arm awningsystem 10 in accordance with the parent invention for a motor home orrecreational vehicle 12 having a coach slider 14, which is extendablefrom a sidewall 16 of the vehicle 12 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of the system 10 showing a coach slider 14and a retracted position and an extended position respectively.Operation of the coach slider 14 and a mechanism for enabling extensionand retraction from the vehicle 12 are not part of the presentinvention.

The system 10 includes a encasement 20 having a back wall 22 for fixingthe encasement 20 along a top 26 of the slider, as best shown in FIGS. 2and 3.

A slider awning 30 is provided for extending over the coach slider top26 and includes a first end 32 for attachment to the coach sidewall 16and a second end 34 attached to a first roll bar 38, which is providedfor rolling the slider awning 30 thereabout within the encasement 20 ina conventional manner. Such slider roll bars are described, for example,in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,536 which is incorporated herewith in itsentirety for illustrating the type of roll bar mechanism suitable forthe slider awning 30.

It should be appreciated that in FIG. 2, the slider 14 is shown in aslightly ajar position from the coach sidewall 16 in order to illustratethe positioning of the slider awning. In transit, the slider 14 would bein a flush position with the coach sidewall 16.

A lateral arm awning 42 is provided, extendable over articulatedattached lateral arms 44, 46, and having a first end 50 attached to asecond roll bar 54 and a second end attached to a header 60.

Examples of suitable articulated lateral arms 44, lateral awnings 42 arediscussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,371 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/366,952, “Awning System For a Recreational Vehicle” filed Feb.14, 2003. Both of these references are incorporated herewith in theirentirety for illustrating the type of articulated lateral arm 44 andlateral arm awning 42 mechanisms suitable for use in the presentinvention. In view of these teachings, detailed structure and operationof the lateral arm awning 42 is omitted herewith for clarity.

As shown, the first roll bar 38 and second roll bar 54 are independentlymounted for rotation within the encasement 20 and this enablesindependent operation of the slider awning 30 and lateral arm awning 42by a control system, not shown, this feature enables the extension ofthe lateral arm awning 42 from the slider 14 whether or not the slider14 is extended from the coach 12.

In order to provide a compact and streamline system 10, the encasement20 include an upper portion 64 which overhangs a lower portion 66 andthe lateral arms 44, 46 are fixed to the encasement lower portion 66 inorder that the lateral arms 44, 46 may be disposed beneath theencasement upper portion 64 with the header 60 fully retracted, see FIG.2.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-5, there is shown a combo slide-windowawning system 100 in accordance with the present invention for a motorhome or recreational vehicle 12 having a coach slider 14, which isextendable from a sidewall 16 of the vehicle 12. Common referencecharacter represent identical or substantially similar element of theembodiment 10 hereinbefore described.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side views of the system 100 showing a coach slider 14in a retracted position in an extended position respectively. Operationof the coach slider 14 and a mechanism for enabling extension andretraction from the vehicle 12 are not part of the present invention.

The system 100 includes a encasement 20 having a back wall 22 for fixingthe encasement 20 along a top 26 of the slider 14, as best shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

A slider awning 30 is provided for extending over the coach slider top26 and includes a first end for attachment to the coach sidewall 16 anda second end 34 attached to a first roll bar 38, which is provided forrolling the slider awning 30 thereabout within the encasement 20 in aconventional manner. Such slider roll bars are described, for example,in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,536 which is incorporated herewith in itsentirety for illustrating the type of roll bar mechanism suitable forthe slider awning 30.

It should be appreciated that in FIG. 4, the slider 14 is shown in aslightly ajar position from the coach sidewall 16 in order to illustratethe positioning of the slider awning 30. In transit, the slider 14 wouldbe in a flush position with the coach sidewall 16.

A window awning 110 is provided and outwardly extendable a first end 112attached to a second roll bar 54 and a second end 114 attached tosupport arms 116, only one being shown.

The support arms 116 are pivotably attached to the slider 14 by pins 120and may be additionally supported by struts 122. Attachments to theslider 14 may be afforded by fixtures 124.

As shown, the first roll bar 38 and second roll bar 54 are independentlymounted for rotation within the encasement 20 and this enablesindependent operation of the slider awning 30 and window awning 110 by acontrol system, not shown, this feature enables the extension of thewindow awning 110 from the slider 14 whether or not the slider 14 isextended from the coach 12.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific comboslide-window awning for motor home and recreational vehicle use inaccordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustratingthe manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should beappreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, thepresent invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consistessentially of the recited elements. Further, the inventionillustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absenceof any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly,any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements whichmay occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be withinthe scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A combo slide-window awning system for motor homes and recreationalvehicles having an extendable coach slider, the system comprising: anelongate encasement having a back wall for fixing said elongateencasement along a top of the coach slider; a slider awning forextending over the coach slider; a first roll bar disposed in theencasement and attached to said slider awning for rolling said slideawning thereabout within the encasement; a window awning; a second rollbar disposed in the encasement and attached to a lateral arm awning forrolling said window awning thereabout within the encasement; andarticulated support arms fixed to the encasement and attached to saidwindow awning for extending and retracting said window awning from andtoward the slider.
 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein saidsecond roll bar is operable, independent of operation of said first rollbar, for rolling said window awning.
 3. The system according to claim 1wherein said slider awning includes a first end for attachment to acoach sidewall.
 4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said sliderawning includes a second end for attachment to said first roll bar. 5.The system according to claim 4 wherein said window awning includes afirst end attached to said second roll bar.
 6. The system according toclaim 5 wherein the support arms are fixable to the slider with the armsdisposed beneath the encasement with the awning fully retracted.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 6 wherein said slider awning is extendablethrough the encasement back wall over said coach slider.
 8. A comboslide window awning system for motor homes and recreational vehicleshaving a sidewall with a coach slider extendable from said sidewall, thesystem comprising: an elongate encasement having a back wall for fixingsaid elongate encasement along a top of said coach slider; a sliderawning having a first and a second end, said first end being fixable tosaid sidewall; a first roll bar disposed in the encasement and attachedto said slider awning second end for rolling said slider awningthereabout within the encasement; a window awning having a first end anda second end; a second roll bar disposed in the encasement and attachedto the window awning first end for rolling said window awning thereaboutwithin the encasement; and a pair of articulated support arms fixed tothe encasement for extending and retracting said window awning from andtoward the encasement.
 9. The system according to claim 8 wherein saidsecond roll bar is operable, independent of operation of said first rollbar, for rolling said window awning.
 10. The system according to claim 8wherein said slider awning is extendable through the encasement backwall over the coach slider.
 11. The system according to claim 10 whereinsaid lateral awning is extendable through the encasement.
 12. A comboslide window awning system comprising: a recreational vehicle having asidewall with a coach slider extendable from said sidewall; an elongateencasement having a back wall for fixing said elongate encasement alonga top of said coach slider; a slider awning having a first and secondend, said first end being fixable to said sidewall; a first roll bardisposed in the encasement and attached to said slider awning second endfor rolling said slider awning thereabout within the encasement; awindow awning having a first end and a second end; a second roll bardisposed in the encasement and attached to the window awning first endfor rolling said window awning thereabout within the encasement; and apair of articulated support arms fixed to the encasement for extendingand retracting said window awning from and toward the encasement. 13.The system according to claim 12 wherein said second roll bar isoperable, independent of operation of said first roll bar, for rollingsaid window awning.
 14. The system according to claim 13 wherein saidslider awning is extendable through the encasement back wall over thecoach slider.
 15. The system according to claim 14 wherein said lateralawning is extendable through the encasement.
 16. A combo slide windowawning system comprising: a recreational vehicle having a sidewall witha coach slider extendable from said sidewall; an elongate encasementhaving a back wall for fixing said elongate encasement along a top ofsaid coach slider; a slider awning having a first and second end, saidfirst end being fixable to said sidewall; a first roll bar disposed inthe encasement and attached to said slider awning second end for rollingsaid slider awning thereabout within the encasement; a window awninghaving a first end and a second end; a second roll bar disposed in theencasement and attached to the window awning first end for rolling saidwindow awning thereabout within the encasement; and a pair of supportarms pivotally attached to the slider for extending and retracting saidwindow awning from and toward the encasement.
 17. The system accordingto claim 16 wherein said second roll bar is operable, independent ofoperation of said first roll bar, for rolling said window awning. 18.The system according to claim 17 wherein said slider awning isextendable through the encasement back wall over the coach slider. 19.The system according to claim 18 wherein said lateral awning isextendable through the encasement.